DENVER – All good things must come to an end.
After beating Chadron State in Sunday's opener 1-0, the MSU Denver softball team dropped a 9-6 decision in the second game of the doubleheader at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
The second-game loss snapped the Roadrunners' 15-game winning streak (the second-longest in program history), their school-record 15-game home winning streak (dating to last season) and their 20-game winning streak over Chadron State (dating to 2017).
"I give Chadron State credit," MSU Denver coach
Annie Van Wetzinga said. "They showed up today to compete. They showed up with energy. It was a new day for them. And that's what we talked about with our team -- people are going to come after you.
"That's the hard part of being kind of at the top and doing good things. If you crack the door a little bit, teams get excited about it and try to kick it open."
The Roadrunners are now 18-7 overall and 15-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after winning three of the four games in the series.
Pitcher
Jenna Medhus (9-2) was outstanding again in the opener, twirling a six-hit shutout while striking out eight.
"Her performance and Aaliyah (Arellano) defensively at third base, those are huge reasons we won that game – two freshmen leading the way," Van Wetzinga said.
MSU Denver scored the game's only run in the first inning, as
Alexia Boring reached on an error to lead off the inning and eventually scored on a two-out error on a line drive by
Jaiden Geist.
The Roadrunners managed just one hit all game against tough-luck loser Tori Haug.
"We're bummed and frustrated, really with how the whole day went," Van Wetzinga said. "We dodged a bullet in the first game."
In the second game Chadron State – which had just six total hits while being swept Saturday and only six hits in Sunday's opener – suddenly bashed five no-doubt home runs.
The Eagles hit three homers while taking a 5-0 lead after 2 ½ innings, but MSU Denver responded with six runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead.
Undaunted, Chadron State (7-16, 5-11) hit a two-run homer in the fourth to retake the lead, and added back-to-back homers in the fifth.
"Our pitchers have done some really good things, but our No. 1 goal is to keep the ball in the park," Van Wetzinga said. "And if you don't keep the ball in the park, it's hard."
After a nearly unprecedented run, the Roadrunners find themselves in second place in the RMAC, one game behind nationally-ranked Colorado Christian (26-2, 16-0).
"Championship teams, teams that want to finish at the top, you have to show up every day," Van Wetzinga said. "And it's hard because teams are excited to play us. If they can knock us off, that's a big deal."
MSU Denver is back in action Tuesday, with nonconference doubleheader against Fort Hays State (Kan.) scheduled to start at noon.
